Man City might have found their best form at the perfect time

Perhaps the opponents were so bad that not much should be read into it but for the first time this season, Manchester City put in a near-perfect display on Sunday.

That's not to say City have been bad to start the new campaign. Pep Guardiola's side won six games on the spin out of the gate and it took them until February to win four consecutive matches last term. Considering how it ended, this year certainly bodes well.

But despite the victories City were far from their best. There is enough sensational quality in the squad that there is always going to be moments of brilliance in practically every game but, as a collective, things weren't quite clicking.

ALSO READ: Ballon d'Or fulfils Man City wish for Guardiola despite Haaland snub

ALSO READ: Guardiola finally finds first-choice Man City XI without De Bruyne

It's completely understandable as to why, given half of the core starting XI that was so crucial to the treble triumph was unavailable. Captain Ilkay Gundogan has left, Kevin De Bruyne managed just 20 minutes on the opening day before being ruled out until 2024 and John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish all had injury problems.

Add several new signings coming in and having to get used to a radical new style of play - and one of those, Mateo Kovacic, getting injured as well - it's a wonder City weren't even worse. Many lesser sides would not have been able to gain 18 points out of 18 but City just kept on ticking.

That was until the straw of Rodri's suspension broke the camel's back. The perfect start unravelled as the crucial Spaniard missed three games following his foolish red card. All three of the matches were lost. No tears were shed of elimination from the Carabao Cup, a match he wouldn't have